February is American Heart Month. Did you know that some complementary health approaches have been studied to see whether they can help control heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels?

• Certain dietary supplements, including soy protein, flaxseed, garlic, and green tea, may have modest cholesterol-lowering effects. However, not all supplements promoted for cholesterol management have been shown to be effective. Some, including chromium, vitamin C, and coenzyme Q10, have not been found to be helpful, and the evidence on others, including policosanol and guggulipid, is unclear.
• Some psychological or physical complementary health approaches, including meditation, tai chi, qigong, and yoga, may have small beneficial effects on blood pressure in people with high blood pressure.
• Some foods and dietary supplements, including cocoa, garlic, fish oil, and flaxseed, may reduce blood pressure to a small extent in people with high blood pressure.